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Mar 13, 2012 | 03:34

Trading at Noon: Stocks up on Greece, retail sales

Mar. 13 - U.S. stocks are up as euro zone finance ministers gave their final approval to a second bailout for Greece.

TRANSCRIPT +

Checking in on trading at noon US stocks are up is eurozone finance ministers give their final approval to a second bailout for Greece. The S&P 500 hitting its highest intraday level since June 2008 and the NASDAQ reaching its highest mark since December. Of 2000. That's also getting a boost earlier today from strong US retail sales data and Americans hit the malls and force in February leaving the largest rise in sales. In five months. Leading it can't on the S&P 500 right -- check out the financial -- more than one point 1%. And I think it quick look at commodities right now we've got -- that's -- up more than half of 1% and gold. Just down here had -- the -- on these decisions on monetary policy. Let's retail sales number is hitting the -- justice and was getting down to business this morning. The FOMC meeting underway with this statement -- -- about 2:15 PM look the Central Bank to stay the course on monetary policy as it continues to sit through conflicting economic signals. There could be a cautionary note on high gas prices. No big changes to the statement expected and no news conference and the Fed Chairman today. With FaceBook fueling the boom in pre IPO trading in the SEC is stepping up its scrutiny of firms that sell stock in private companies. -- US regulator is negotiating a settlement with shares -- one of the leading platforms in the secondary market. A source says SEC staff -- determined that company should have registered -- broker dealer before connecting buyers with sellers. Shares coast has since registered as -- broker dealer. Another company being probed by regulators is Felix investments which has also been buying and selling FaceBook shares among other hot private companies -- The inquiry -- a year after the SEC began looking into pre IPO trading and reflect the agency's concern that investors. I'm getting information they need to make informed decisions. Now person stocks to watch shares of might as have the golden touch today they are soaring more than 27%. The auto repair chain agreed to be taken private ITC court and 173. Million dollar cash deal and here's the Urban Outfitters and -- down just about. I point 2%. The retailer said sales of full price items have improved in the current quarter but it expects discount and remain higher than last year. The big -- the world's largest accounting and auditing companies have been pumping more money than ever and US lobbying and political campaigns. I've ordered analysis showed a significant portion of the multimillion dollar lobbying efforts. Athens and trying to influence a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The nearly decade old oversight panel that is considering changes including a mandate that corporations regularly switch auditors. Some other industries think I'm more money into logging and the big four big spender on logging in 2011. That's another -- as well as the pharmaceutical. And medical products industry. Brokers seem to be on a one way street and it's heading out of Merrill Lynch these days. Reuters reports that at least fifty advisors who managed -- nearly twelve billion dollars in client assets have -- since January 1. In addition to that at least seventy advisors who managed more than sixteen million dollars in client assets. -- have left the firm in September. That accounts for more than 1% of the brokerage is roughly one point five. Trillion dollar client asset -- the firm has declined rumors of a great accidents across the ranks and has not announced. Any team hires to fill the that's off the trading at me and I'm Jen Rogers and if this writers.

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